By launching its large off-road vehicle Grenadier, Ineos is going against market trends. And it’s not about to get better, as the launch of the new electric SUV Fusilier has been delayed.
Chemical magnate Jim Ratcliffe decided to enter the automotive production business after the replacement of the Land Rover Defender with a less rugged model. This gave birth to the Grenadier, an off-roader produced in Moselle at the former Smart factory. To ensure the operation of the production lines, Ineos relies heavily on the internationalization of its sales, and the 4×4 has already been shipped to different continents.
The second model, the Fusilier, was unveiled a few months ago, with commercialization planned for 2027. The vehicle is 100% electric, mainly imposed by market demands rather than a real belief in electric powertrains. In order to continue delivering its vehicles in Europe and the UK, Ineos must make a portion of its sales with a zero-emission model.
However, the launch of this new vehicle, which would be designed and produced by Magna in Austria, is now postponed. The manufacturer justifies this decision due to various uncertainties. Factors such as customer acceptance of electric models in off-road vehicles, as well as taxation issues complicating the economic equation, especially for such a small manufacturer, are mentioned.
There is no new launch date for the Fusilier yet. But this is clearly just a delay, not a cancellation. In fact, while the deadline of 2035 could be postponed in the European Union, the opposite scenario is emerging in the UK. The Labour Party, which could win the UK general elections, is considering setting 2030 as the deadline for the ban on thermal models…